A penniless drifter is recruited by an ambitious columnist to impersonate a non-existent person who said he'd be committing suicide as a protest, and a social movement begins.A penniless drifter is recruited by an ambitious columnist to impersonate a non-existent person who said he'd be committing suicide as a protest, and a social movement begins.A penniless drifter is recruited by an ambitious columnist to impersonate a non-existent person who said he'd be committing suicide as a protest, and a social movement begins.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
Charles C. Wilson
- Charlie Dawson
- (as Charles Wilson)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFour different endings were filmed, but all were ultimately deemed unsatisfactory during previews. A letter from an audience member suggested a fifth ending, which Frank Capra liked and used in the finished film.
- GoofsAfter "John Doe" intrudes on D. B. Norton's dinner party and tells him off, Norton calls his newspaper and orders a special edition which will reveal Doe as a fraud. Doe takes a cab from Norton's house directly to the convention hall. Within minutes of his arrival there, a horde of newsboys appear with copies of the newspaper. It would be impossible to print an extra edition in such a short period of time. Correction: There isn't a plot hole, because D.B. Norton isn't saying nor implying that the newspaper will be printed from them on. He stated, before Ann is running after John Doe's in the Rain, "that he was prepared for this" and this does imply that the papers were already prepared, printed before. D.B. was a very rich man, callous, evil man. He foresaw all the problems in his investments.
- Alternate versionsAlso available in a computer-colorized version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 54th Annual Academy Awards (1982)
- SoundtracksTHE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC
(1861) (uncredited)
Music by William Steffe
Lyrics by Julia Ward Howe
Performed by Hall Johnson Choir
Featured review
Sensitive and intelligent picture about triumphs and agonies of a good guy
This classic movie written by Robert Riskin (Capra's usual) concerns about a fired journalist named Ann Mitchell (excellent Barbara Stanwyck , though first choice for the role was Anne Sheridan). She thinks up an original idea and prints a false letter from an unemployed , a down-and-out John Doe who threatens to commit suicide . The editor (James Gleason) hires John Willoughby (Gary Cooper in the title role playing with natural sincerity , as usual) to embodiment Doe. Willoughby is usually accompanied by his skeptical friend (Walter Brennan who steals the show) . John Doe protests against corrupts politicians , against the shutting doors at hospitals for needy and complains about abundant injustice . Doe founds 'John Doe clubs' along the cities and Democratic and Republic headquarters are worried because everybody join to John Doe . John starts a political movement but the publisher Norton (Edward Arnold) has a secret scheme. Doe eventually realizes who he's being used and takes on corruption and win , not without coming heart-rendingly close to failure.
An enjoyable Frank Capra film that displays drama , a love story and biting social critical ; however , being a bit slow in part for overlong dialogs and speeches . Capra's touches of sensibility and intelligence in presenting characters had his spectators sharing triumphs and flops . Frank Capra was an expert in manipulating their emotions such as proved in his films of the 1930s and 1940s , as he influenced the lives and beliefs of people of the nation with movies as 'Mr Deeds goes to town' , 'You can't take it with you' , 'It's wonderful life' and 'Meet John Doe' . The film packs a good score by Dimitri Tiomkin and nice cinematography by George Barnes , though available in a horrible colorized versión . The motion picture was well realized with realism and cleverness and wonderfully well acted at the same time. Rating : Better than average , the movie will appeal to cinema classics lovers
An enjoyable Frank Capra film that displays drama , a love story and biting social critical ; however , being a bit slow in part for overlong dialogs and speeches . Capra's touches of sensibility and intelligence in presenting characters had his spectators sharing triumphs and flops . Frank Capra was an expert in manipulating their emotions such as proved in his films of the 1930s and 1940s , as he influenced the lives and beliefs of people of the nation with movies as 'Mr Deeds goes to town' , 'You can't take it with you' , 'It's wonderful life' and 'Meet John Doe' . The film packs a good score by Dimitri Tiomkin and nice cinematography by George Barnes , though available in a horrible colorized versión . The motion picture was well realized with realism and cleverness and wonderfully well acted at the same time. Rating : Better than average , the movie will appeal to cinema classics lovers
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Details
- Runtime2 hours 2 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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